Napoles convicted anew for graft, malversation
Businesswoman Janet Lim Napoles, the alleged mastermind behind the “pork barrel” scam, has been found guilty in 12 separate cases—six for malversation and six for graft—over the unlawful use of the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) of former Benguet Rep. Samuel Dangwa.
In a decision dated Dec. 5 that was released on Sunday, the Sandiganbayan’s Special Division convicted Napoles and several other individuals for malversation of public funds totaling P92.103 million between 2007 and 2010. The case against Dangwa was dismissed with his death in 2019.
Napoles received the maximum prison penalty of reclusion perpetua (20 years and 1 day or up to 40 years) in two of the cases. In the four remaining cases, the prison terms ranged from six years and one month to 17 years, four months and one day.
Bogus projects
The antigraft court found that Napoles, through various nongovernment organizations under her control, including the Countrywide Agri and Rural Economic Development Foundation, Inc. (CARED), Peoples Organization for Progress and Development Foundation, Inc. and Social Development Program for Farmers Foundation, Inc., took possession of millions in PDAF money meant for livelihood and development projects in Benguet and other areas. The projects were found to be fictitious or were never implemented at all.
Her coaccused in the malversation case, who were also found guilty, included CARED president Mylene Tagayon Encarnacion (two counts), Dennis Lacson Cunanan (three counts), Ma. Rosalinda Masocsoc Lacsamana (one count), Gondelina Guadalupe Amata (one count) and Erwin Cagas Dangwa (one count). Each of them was ordered to pay fines and return the misappropriated public funds.
The Sandiganbayan also convicted Napoles in six separate graft cases, making her the sole individual to be found guilty in all 12 cases.
Not enough proof
The court, however, cleared the following individuals of both graft and malversation charges, saying the prosecution failed to prove their guilt beyond reasonable doubt: Mario Loquellano Relampagos, Rosario Salamida Nufiez, Lalaine Narag Paule, Marilou Dialino Bare, Marivic Villaluz Jover, Rhodora Bulatao Mendoza and Victor Roman Cojamco Caca.
Also cleared were Maria Ninez Paredes Guanizo, Gregoria Garcia Buenaventura, Chita Chua Jalandoni, Sofia Daing Cruz, Filipina Tolentino Rodriguez, Ofelia Elento Ordonez, Evelyn Ditchon de Leon and Nitz Tuangco Cabilao.
The court, at the same time, ordered the cases archived against six people who remain at large:
Carlos Lozada, Antonio Yrigon Ortiz, Alan Alunan Javellana, Ma. Julie Asor Villaralvo-Johnson, John Raymund Sales de Asis and John Bernardo.
Napoles has been serving time in prison since 2018 after her conviction for various offenses, including plunder. She was sentenced in 2023 to at least 138 years and 3 months or up to 150 years in prison after she was found guilty of 3 counts of graft and 3 counts of malversation for the illegal use of former Ilocos Sur Rep. Salacnib Baterina’s PDAF funds.
In October this year, she was again found guilty of 13 more counts of money laundering, also in connection with the pork barrel scam.
Other cases
The PDAF scam, which the Inquirer broke in a series of reports in 2013, involved the diversion of pork barrel funds to bogus foundations from 2004 to 2012, arising from the alleged collusion between Napoles and some lawmakers.
For each of the 13 counts of money laundering, Napoles was handed down a prison term of seven to 14 years by the Pasig Regional Trial Court’s Branch 158. She was also ordered to pay a fine of P94.15 million for laundering money from PDAF funds.
This was her second conviction for money laundering after the first one in 2024 by the Manila Regional Trial Court’s Branch 24.
